Latchable reciprocating switch construction

ABSTRACT

A switch having an axially reciprocable actuator movable from a projected position to a number of retracted positions and return, and which carries conductive elements engageable and disengageable with fixed contacts in response to movements of the actuator. The actuator normally is latched in its projected position in which none of the conductive elements engage the contacts, but operating means is provided for releasing the latch and simultaneously shifting the actuator to an intermediate or partially retracted position in which engagement between at least one of the conductive elements and the fixed contacts is effected, and from which the actuator is movable to its fully retracted position. As the actuator is moved to its fully retracted position at least one of the conductive elements is deflected so as to disengage it and the fixed contacts.

United States Patent [151 3,696,222 Langan et al. 51 Oct. 3, 1972 [s41LATCHABLE RECIPROCATING 2,810,050 10/1957 Johnson ..200/169 R SWITCHCONSTRUCTION 3,511,943 5/1970 Kibler ..200/61.27 X [72] Inventors: JohnLangan Detroit; Charles R. 3,567,874 3/ 1971 Strobel ..200/ 16 R Gardenboth of Primary Examiner-R. F. Staubly Attorney-Learman & McCulloch [73]Assignee: Essex International Inc. 22 Filed: Sept. 9, 1970 [57] ABSIRACTA switch having an axially reciprocable actuator [2}] Appl' 70321movable from a projected position to a number of retracted positions andreturn, and which carries con- 52 U.S. c1. ..200/16 R, 200/169 PBductive elements engageable and disengageable with 51 1111. C1. ..H01h3/20, HOlh 9/20 fixed contacts in response to movements of the actua-[58] Field of Search ..200/16 R, 169 A, 169 C, Thsfiig 9999911119 fihd iits Pmiecmd 169 PB, 200/169 R position in which none of the conductiveelements engage the contacts, but operating means is provided forreleasing the latch and simultaneously shifting the ac- [56] ReferencesCited tuator to an intermediate or partially retracted position in whichengagement between at least one of the UNlTED STATES PATENTS conductiveelements and the fixed contacts is effected, and from which the actuatoris movable to its fully :3 Elebrelch 88 retracted position. As theactuator is moved to its fully g 141919 200/16 R retracted position atleast one of the conductive cle- I e s s n t d n t d d t d f d 3,431,3713/1969 Stoi et a1. ..200/16 R 8 6 as 'sengage e 1,101,866 6/1914McConnell....200/l69 PB UX 1,496,582 6/1924 Libby ..200/16 R 13 Claims,7 Drawing Figures P A'TENTEDIJBI 3 I972 SHEET 1 0F 2 TORS INVEN JOHN P.LANGAN CHARLES R. COBBELDICK vm m N mm mm mm NI: w

PAIENTEDnma 1912 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTORS JOHN P. LANGAN BCi HARLES R.COBBELICK LATCHABLE RECIPROCATING SWITCH CONSTRUCTION This inventionrelates to electrical switches and more particularly to a reciprocatingswitch that is especially adapted for use in vehicle speed controlmechanisms of the kind wherein the speed of a vehicle equipped with suchmechanism may be maintained-substantially constant. A switchconstruction of the general class to which the invention relates isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,431,371.

Vehicle speed control devices conventionally include an on-off or armingswitch mounted on or adjacent a vehicles instrument panel and which mustbe moved to its on position so as to condition the speed controlmechanism for operation. It also is conventional to provide anadditional actuating switch in the vehicles direction signal operatinglever or elsewhere and which must be operated by the vehicle driver,following operation of the arming switch, to render the speed controlmechanism operable. The necessity of providing two different switchesand their associated parts represents substantial expense.

An actuating switch mechanism such as is disclosed in the aforementionedpatent includes a push button which projects from the free end of thedirection signal operating lever and which is reciprocable between aprojected position and a number of retracted positions. When an armingswitch associated with this switch mechanism is in its off position,reciprocation of the actuating switch has no effect on the speed controlmechanism, but is the arming switch is in its on position, it ispossible for the speed control mechanism inadvertently to be energized.Inadvertent energization of the speed control mechanism can behazardous.

An object of this invention is to provide an actuating switchconstruction applicable tovehicle speed control devices and whichperforms not only the function of controlling the speed controlmechanism, but also the function of conditioning the speed controlmechanism for operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reciprocable switchmechanism having an actuating member which may be latched in an off orinoperable position and which may not be operated without the latchbeing released deliberately.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch mechanism ofthe character described and wherein release of the latch automaticallyeffects movement of the actuating member to an armed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an actuating switchmechanism of the kind described for use with vehicle speed controlmechanisms and which is compatible with such mechanisms currently inuse.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed outspecifically or will become apparent from the following description whenit is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a switch constructed inaccordance with the invention and illustrating the actuating member inits fully projected, latched, inoperable position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the actuatingmember in a partially retracted, armed position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the actuatingmember in an operative position between its armed position and its fullyretracted position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating the actuatingmember in its fully retracted, momentarily disabled position; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIG. 7.

A switch constructed in accordance with the disclosed embodiment of theinvention comprises a tubular support member 1 formed of insulating.material such as nylon or the like and having a bore 2 thereinterminating at one end in a flared chamber 3 which merges with a chamber4. The chamber 4 leads to a chamber 5 which, in turn, leads to a chamber6 that terminates in an annular recess 7 at one end of the member 1. Atthe opposite end of the member 1 is a bore 8 in communication with thebore 2 and in which is fitted one end of a hollow arm or lever 9 whichmay constitute the direction signal operating lever of a conventionaldirection signal switch.

Located within the support member 1 is a generally thimble-shapedmounting member 10 formed of insulating material and having a body 11terminating at one end in an annular, enlarged skirt 12 which isaccommodated snugly in the chamber 5. The body 11 terminates at itsother end in a cylindrical neck 13 which is accommodated partially inthe chamber 3 and partially in the chamber 4. At the juncture of thebody 11 and the skirt 12 is a series of three uniformly spaced openings14 which establish axial communication between the exterior of the body11 and the interior of the skirt 12. Extending through the openings 14are conductive contact blades 15, 16 and 17, one end of each of which ispeened over the skirt 12 and the other end of which is shaped to conformto the configuration of the juncture of the body 11 and the neck 13. Thecontact elements thus are fixed with respect to the member 1. Insulatedconductors 18, 19 and 20 are joined at corresponding ends to the fixedcontacts and extend through the member 9 for connection to a source ofelectric energy and to electrical apparatus to be operated, in themanner illustrated in the aforementioned patent.

Actuating means 21 is mounted in the chamber 6 and includes a body orpush button 22 formed of insulating material from one end of whichextends a generally cylindrical rod 23 having one flat surface 24. Therod terminated in a reduced extension 25 which is slidably accommodatedin the cylinder 13 so as to support and guide the push button in itsmovements.

Fitted onto the rod 23 is a conductive member 26 comprising a disk 27from which extend flexible, conductive arms 28, 29 and 30, the armsdiverging radially from the'disk 27 and the arm 28 being of greaterlength than the other arms 29 and 30. The disk 27 has an opening 31therein that is shaped similarly to the crosssectional shape of the rod23 and accommodates the latter. The spacing and arrangement of theconductive arms 28-30 correspond to the spacing and arrangement of thefixed contacts -17, and the free ends of the movable contact arms are solocated as tobe engageable with the radially inner surfaces of the fixedcontacts. The conductive member 26 is maintained snugly against the pushbutton body 22 by a compression spring 32 which surrounds the rods 23and 25 and reacts between the mounting member 11 and the disk 27.

The actuator member 22 is restrained against rotation by a pair ofradially extending ribs 33 which are accommodated in grooves 34 formedin the chamber 6, and the member 26 is restrained against rotationrelative to the member 22 by the flat surface 24 on the rod 23 and thecorrespondingly shaped side of the opening 31 in the disk 27.

The-member 22 has a radially extending bore 35 within which is mounted acompression spring 36 and a ball 37, the ball being urged to a radiallyprojected position by the spring 36. The ball normally is accommodatedin a groove 38 formed in the chamber 6 and which terminates at its innerend in a detent shoulder 39.

Fitted into the recess 7 of the support member 1 is a rotatableoperating ring 40 through which the actuator member 22 extends. The ringis maintained in the recess 7 by means of a bead or rim 41 at the innerend of the ring and which is accommodated rotatably in a groove 42formed at the base of the recess.

Releasable latching means 43 is provided for the purpose of enabling anddisabling retracting movement of the actuator 22 from the position shownin FIG. 1. The latching means comprises a latch part or stud 44projecting radially from the member 22 and which is accommodated in anaxial groove 45 formed in the ring 40. The groove 45 terminates short ofthe inner end of the ring 40 so as to form a latch part or ledge 46. Thegroove 45 communicates with a groove 47 at the inner end of the ring 40,the groove 47 having an oblique cam surface 48 for a purpose to bedescribed.

In the position of the parts illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the actuatingmember 21 is in its fully projected, disarmed position, the fixed andmovable switch contacts are disengaged, and the latch stud 44 rests onthe ledge 46. The spring 32 urges the member 22 outwardly of the member1, but further projected movement of the member 22 is prevented by theengagement of the ribs 33 with the ring 40.

Upon rotation of the latch operating ring 40 clockwise, as view in FIG.1, the stud 44 will enter the groove 47 so as to be released by theledge 46. Further rotation of the ring 40 will cause the cam surface 48to bear against the stud 44 so as to displace the actuator 22 to theleft and move it to a partially retracted position as determined by theengagement of the stud 44 with the inner end of the ring 40. See FIG. 3.In this position of the actuator 22, the longest conductive member 28will be in engagement with the conductor 15 so as to establishconnection between the conductor 26 and the vehicle battery or othersource of energy. The position of the parts indicated in FIG. 3 is thearmed position of the switch mechanism.

From the position shown in FIG. 3 the actuating member 22 manually maybe displaced inwardly or retracted relatively to the support member 1 toan operative position shown in FIG. 5 in which the ball 37 engages theshoulder 39 and arrests further retracting movement of the member intheabsence of the application of a greater force thereto; In thisposition of the actuator, all of the arms of the conductor 26 will be inengagement with the fixed contact blades so as to establish circuitcontinuity among the blades l5, l6 and 17 via the disk 27, therebyenabling operation of the electrical apparatus.

From the operative position of the actuator 22 shown in FIG. 5, it maybe retracted further by the application of sufficient additional forceon the member 22 to overcome the force of the spring 36 and retract theball 37 into the bore 35. Further retracting movement of the actuator 22may continue until such time as the ribs 33 engage the inner ends of therecesses 34 at which time the actuator 22 will be in its fully retractedand momentarily inoperable position as shown in FIG. 7. In this positionof the actuator, the free end of the contact blade 28 will be deflectedradially inwardly by an inclined surface 49 that is provided on theinner surface of the skirt 12 of the member 10 and which lies in thepath of movement of the blade 28. The blade 28 thus will be disengagedfrom the contact 15, thereby breaking'the circuit to the source ofenergy.

Due to the bias of the spring 32, the actuating member 22 must be heldmanually in either of the positions shown in FIGS. 5 or 7. Once theforce applied to the member 22 is released, the spring automaticallywill restore the actuator and the conductor 26 to the positions shown inFIG. 3. As the actuator moves from its fully retracted position toeither of the positions shown in FIGS. 3 or 5, the inherent resilienceof the blade 28 will effect reengagement of the members 28 and 15 so asto re-establish circuit continuity with the energy source.

To return the actuator 22 to its fully projected or disabled position,the ring 40 may be rotated counterclockwise from the position shown inFIG. 3 so as to enable the stud 44 to enter the groove 47. As the ring40 continues to rotate, the spring 32 will urge the actuator 22outwardly of the member 1, as is permitted by the inclined cam surface48 so as to position the stud 44 at a level such as to permit the stud44 once again to seat on the ledge 46. The actuator 22 thus is disabledfrom movement to its retracted position.

The apparatus disclosed herein may be substituted for the apparatusdisclosed in the aforementioned patent.

The disclosure is representative of a presently preferred form of theinvention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitivethereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. A switch construction comprising a support member; actuating meanscarried by said support member for reciprocating movements relative tosaid support member between first and second positions; first and secondcontact means responsive to movements of said actuating means to engageand disengage one another; latch means for disabling and enablingmovement of said actuating means; operating means movable relatively tosaid actuating means for latching and releasing said latch means; andmeans operable in response to movement of said operating means followingrelease of said latch means to move said actuating means to a thirdposition between said first and second positions.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said latch meanscomprises a first part carried by said actuating means and a second partcarried by said operating means for movement relative to said first partinto and out of engagement therewith.

3. The construction set forth in claim 2 wherein said second part isrotatable.

4. The construction set forth in claim 1 including biasing meansconstantly acting on said actuating means and urging the latter towardsaid first position.

5. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said operating meanscomprises a cam.

6. A switch construction comprising a support member; first contactmeans carried by said support member; an actuator member slidablymounted in said support member for reciprocating movements from a firstposition to a second position; second contact means engageable with anddisengageable from said first contact means in response to movements ofsaid actuating member; cooperable latch means operable releasably tolatch said actuator member in said first position; movable latchoperating means for locking and releasing said latch means; and meansresponsive to movement of said operating means following release of saidlatch means to effect movement of said actuating member from firstposition toward said second position.

7. The construction set forth in claim 6 wherein said operating means isrotatable.

8. The construction set forth in claim 7 wherein said responsive meanscomprises a cam.

9. A switch construction comprising an elongate support member; contactmeans supported on said support member; an actuating member carried bysaid support member for reciprocating movements longitudinally of saidsupport member between first and second positions; a plurality ofconductive elements carried by said actuating member for movementstherewith into and out of engagement with said contact means, at leastone of said conductive elements being resilient; means located in thepath of movement of at least said one of said conductive elements assaid actuating member moves from one of said positions toward the otherposition to deflect said one of said conductive elements out ofengagement with said contact means; latch means for disabling movementof said actuating member from said one position toward said secondposition, said latch means comprising a first part carried by saidactuating member and a second part carried by said operating means formovement relative to said first part into and out of engagementtherewith; and operating means for latching and releasing said latchmeans.

10. The construction set forth in claim 9 wherein none of saidconductive elements engages said switch contacts when said actuatingmember is in one of said positions and wherein all of said conductiveelements engage said switch contacts when said actuating member is in anintermediate position between said first and second positions.

1 l. The construction set forth in claim 9 wherein said one of saidconductive elements is of greater length than the others thereof. t

12. The construction set forth in claim 9 wherein said second part isrotatable.

13. A switch construction comprising an elongate support member; fixedcontact means supported by said support member; an actuating membercarried by said support member for reciprocating movementslongitudinally of said support member between projected and fullyretracted positions; a plurality of conductive elements carried by saidactuating member for movements therewith into and out of engagement withsaid fixed contact means, at least one of said elements being resilient;latch means carried by said actuating member for latching the latter insaid projected position and in which none of said elements engages saidcontact means; operating means carried by said support member andmovable relatively to said actuating member for releasing said latchmeans; means carried by said operating means and operable in response tomovement thereof relative to said actuating member to move the latterfrom said projected position in a direction toward a partially retractedposition and in which at least one of said elements engages said contactmeans; and means located in the path of movement of said resilient oneof said elements for deflecting the latter out of engagement with saidcontact means as said actuating member moves from said partiallyretracted position toward said fully retracted position.

1. A switch construction comprising a support member; actuating meanscarried by said support member for reciprocating movements relative tosaid support member between first and second positions; first and secondcontact means responsive to movements of said actuating means to engageand disengage one another; latch means for disabling and enablingmovement of said actuating means; operating means movable relatively tosaid actuating means for latching and releasing said latch means; andmeans operable in response to movement of said operating means followingrelease of said latch means to move said actuating means to a thirdposition between said first and second positions.
 2. The constructionset forth in claim 1 wherein said latch means comprises a first partcarried by said actuating means and a second part carried by saidoperating means for movement relative to said first part into and out ofengagement therewith.
 3. The construction set forth in claim 2 whereinsaid second part is rotatable.
 4. The construction set forth in claim 1including biasing means constantly acting on said actuating means andurging the latter toward said first position.
 5. The construction setforth in claim 1 wherein said operating means comprises a cam.
 6. Aswitch construction comprising a support member; first contact meanscarried by said support member; an actuator member slidably mounted insaid support member for reciprocating movements from a first position toa second position; second contact means engageable with anddisengageable from said first contact means in response to movements ofsaid actuating member; cooperable latch means operable releasably tolatch said actuator member in said first position; movable latchoperating means for locking and releasing said latch means; and meansresponsive to movement of said operating means following release of saidlatch means to effect movement of said actuating member from firstpoSition toward said second position.
 7. The construction set forth inclaim 6 wherein said operating means is rotatable.
 8. The constructionset forth in claim 7 wherein said responsive means comprises a cam.
 9. Aswitch construction comprising an elongate support member; contact meanssupported on said support member; an actuating member carried by saidsupport member for reciprocating movements longitudinally of saidsupport member between first and second positions; a plurality ofconductive elements carried by said actuating member for movementstherewith into and out of engagement with said contact means, at leastone of said conductive elements being resilient; means located in thepath of movement of at least said one of said conductive elements assaid actuating member moves from one of said positions toward the otherposition to deflect said one of said conductive elements out ofengagement with said contact means; latch means for disabling movementof said actuating member from said one position toward said secondposition, said latch means comprising a first part carried by saidactuating member and a second part carried by said operating means formovement relative to said first part into and out of engagementtherewith; and operating means for latching and releasing said latchmeans.
 10. The construction set forth in claim 9 wherein none of saidconductive elements engages said switch contacts when said actuatingmember is in one of said positions and wherein all of said conductiveelements engage said switch contacts when said actuating member is in anintermediate position between said first and second positions.
 11. Theconstruction set forth in claim 9 wherein said one of said conductiveelements is of greater length than the others thereof.
 12. Theconstruction set forth in claim 9 wherein said second part is rotatable.13. A switch construction comprising an elongate support member; fixedcontact means supported by said support member; an actuating membercarried by said support member for reciprocating movementslongitudinally of said support member between projected and fullyretracted positions; a plurality of conductive elements carried by saidactuating member for movements therewith into and out of engagement withsaid fixed contact means, at least one of said elements being resilient;latch means carried by said actuating member for latching the latter insaid projected position and in which none of said elements engages saidcontact means; operating means carried by said support member andmovable relatively to said actuating member for releasing said latchmeans; means carried by said operating means and operable in response tomovement thereof relative to said actuating member to move the latterfrom said projected position in a direction toward a partially retractedposition and in which at least one of said elements engages said contactmeans; and means located in the path of movement of said resilient oneof said elements for deflecting the latter out of engagement with saidcontact means as said actuating member moves from said partiallyretracted position toward said fully retracted position.